When the Igbos of eastern Nigeria declared themselves independent
in 1967, Nigeria blockaded their fledgling country-Biafra. In three
years of war, more than one million people died, mainly of hunger.
In famine, children who lack protein often get the disease kwashiorkor,
which causes their muscles to waste away and their bellies to protrude.
War photographer Don McCullin drew attention to the tragedy. "I
was devastated by the sight of 900 children living in one camp in
utter squalor at the point of death," he said. "I lost all
interest in photographing soldiers in action." The world community
intervened to help Biafra, and learned key lessons about dealing with
massive hunger exacerbated by war-a problem that still defies simple
solutions.